Umrah security plans 1447: Details of security and traffic preparedness
His Excellency the Director of Public Security, Lieutenant General Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Bassami, conducted a field visit to assess the readiness of security and traffic authorities and their preparations for implementing the operational plans for this year's Umrah season (1447 AH). This inspection tour comes as part of the early and intensive preparations undertaken by the Ministry of Interior and its affiliated sectors to ensure the safety and security of the pilgrims and provide them with the utmost comfort while performing their rituals.
Field readiness and live scenarios
The inspection tour included a live demonstration of the deployment of participating agencies, attended by the commander of the Umrah security forces and field commanders. This demonstration reflected the high level of coordination and synergy among the various security sectors, and their rapid response to different potential scenarios, ensuring the smooth flow of traffic and maintaining public security in the central area and the holy sites.
The team’s tour included inspecting the sites and routes inside the Grand Mosque and its outer courtyards, where they reviewed the mechanism for implementing the approved security plans that focus on managing crowds with high efficiency, preventing overcrowding in the main corridors, and ensuring easy access for pilgrims and worshippers to the circumambulation area and the Sa’i area.
Traffic plans and crowd management
The plans developed for the 1447 AH Umrah season place great emphasis on traffic management, with the adoption of advanced strategies to regulate traffic flow in Mecca and the roads leading to it. These plans aim to separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic in high-density areas and activate screening and control points to ensure the smooth arrival of buses carrying pilgrims to designated stations around the Grand Mosque.
Context of Vision 2030 and the importance of the event
Preparations for this year's Umrah season are of particular importance given the increasing number of pilgrims and visitors arriving from around the world. This aligns with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the Guests of God Service Program, which aims to facilitate the hosting of pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques and provide them with the best possible services. The Kingdom is continuously working to develop its infrastructure and technology to increase the capacity of the Grand Mosque, necessitating ongoing updates to security plans to accommodate this growth.
Modern security plans increasingly rely on smart technologies, advanced monitoring systems, and artificial intelligence to analyze human densities and proactively guide field teams, thus enhancing the security and safety system and achieving a safe and convenient spiritual experience for pilgrims.
At the end of the tour, Lieutenant General Al-Bassami stressed the need to exert maximum efforts and harness all human and mechanical capabilities to serve those visiting the Holy Mosque, stressing that the safety and security of pilgrims is a red line and a top priority for the wise leadership.
